National award winners on high after ceremony

New Delhi: "Excited", "proud" and "humbled" and even "amused" were the feelings the winners went through after being conferred the most prestigious film award of the country at 59th National Film Awards Thursday. The winners couldn`t hide their excitement.

Vidya Balan, who got an award for best actress for ‘The Dirty Picture’, said: I am very happy and I feel humbled because it is the highest honour for an actor. I wish my entire team of `Dirty Picture` would have been here to share the award, but this goes out to the team. It is actually hitting me now."

Girish Kulkarni, who got the best actor award for ‘Deool’, said: "This is a big day for me, Marathi film industry as well for the regional film industry, where a more meaningful cinema is being created. There is a whole lot of talent that is making films at par with the world cinema. I feel like a child happy with gifts in my hand. No words to express the emotions."

Choreographers Bosco-Ceaser, who won an award for ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, said: "This feeling would almost be like a lifetime achievement award. We never thought we would ever get it. It is a stepping stone and motives us to keep working hard, be more creative and try our best."

Ashvin Kumar, who won an award for Best Film on Social Issues for ‘Inshallah Football’, said: "I am quite amused that the film that was banned and declared unfit for public watching is getting the national award."

Filmmaker Amole Gupte, whose son Partho won the best child artiste for ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ along with the cast of ‘Chillar Party’, said: "I feel very proud that my child gets an award from the vice president. This film was made in just one day. There are times when kids are made to shoot for hours for a film, and from this film I wanted to show that a film can be shot in just four hours too.

Designer Niharika Khan, who won best costume designer for ‘The Dirty Picture’, said: "I am still in shock and nervous. I didn`t expect it to come my way. It is a great honour and hope I live upto it."

Beylon Fonseca for who was awarded for ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and ‘Game’ in sound designer and re-recordist of the final mixed track categories, said: "The feeling hasn`t sunk in yet. It feels awesome to have won it for two different films very close to my heart. The award is for the entire team that has worked with me on the films tirelessly."

Anand Bhate, who won best male playback singer, said: "It was very good specially as it was made on legendary Marathi actor Bal Gandharva. Giving voice to the legendary character was great and being recognized at national level is equally delighting. It is special as it was the first playback singing for me.”

Harry Hingorani, who won for best special effects for ‘RA. One’, said: "It really feels great. Thanks to everybody who were involved with "RA. One" and worked really hard on this movie. It is once in a lifetime opportunity, we might not get it again but will try our best to give the best."

Actor-producer Sanjay Suri said: “I am really inspired to go on the path being chosen and this award is also a validation of faith. The award goes to all the people who helped make `I AM`.”